Helmut Jahn Quotations

You don't know what the Chinese expect in the way of beauty. The presentation is just a farce. You come into a room filled with 50 people and they don't talk to you. There's very little interaction.

When I think of some of my earlier work, it really seems a fortunate coincidence that I succeeded.

German and English firms operate internationally, while French firms do not. The only place where they all have work is in China. Anybody can sell himself in China!

For me, drawing generates thinking and vice versa.

The architecture profession has lost a lot of its integrity, especially in the USA. The general architect here has no scruples, no ambitions.

I find if my body feels well and I exercise regularly, I think better, work better and feel better.

In Europe, architects consider themselves artists. They think they're special when they win a competition.

I've never looked at a suburban building as being a minor building and an urban building as being a major building.

I wanted to improve the suburban office building; to create a great urban space in a suburban environment with all that implies about interaction, collaboration and creativity.

Creativity has more to do with the elimination of the inessential than with inventing something new.